The Ethiopian military's swift capture of Tigray's regional capital Mekelle from the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, sets the stage for pro-government forces to rapidly progress into northern Tigray, likely triggering clashes between Ethiopia and Eritrea and posing a high risk of all-out war between the two countries within weeks. On Oct. 3, the Ethiopian military and pro-government forces entered Mekelle without encountering major resistance. The TPLF acknowledged its exit from the city, stating that it had "temporarily" relocated to an unspecified location, while uncorroborated reports claimed that its leadership had relocated to the city of Axum in northern Tigray. These developments marked a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the Tigrayan rebels, who initiated several ground offensives against pro-government forces in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions on Sept. 23.